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Appalachian State University is one of 100 public colleges included in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine’s special report “Best Values in Public Colleges, 2013.” Appalachian was listed 36th for in-state costs in the listing when comparing affordability based on tuition, fees,
room and board and financial aid. The list is based on 2012 data compiled by Peterson’s Undergraduate Database. “An Appalachian education is more than just a good value,” said Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Lori. S. Gonzalez. “The dedicated faculty and staff ensure that our students are offered a truly transformational experience, which prepares them for careers and for life as engaged citizens.” Schools on the list were selected from a pool of more than 600 public four-year colleges and universities based on based on measures of academic quality, cost and financial aid. Academic quality, which included competitiveness (admission rate and yield), graduation rates and academic support accounted for 55 percent of the ranking, and cost accounted for 45 percent. Other UNC system schools on the list are UNC Chapel Hill, which again was ranked first in the nation for in-state costs; N.C. State University, which was ranked 21st for in-state costs; UNC School of the Arts, ranked 31st for in-state costs; UNC Wilmington, ranked 32nd for in-state costs; and UNC Asheville, ranked 52nd for in-state costs. According to data provided to the magazine, undergraduate tuition, fees, room and board at Appalachian cost $13,129 for the 2011-12 academic year. The cost after factoring in need-based aid (in-state) was $5,903. The average debt at graduation was $17,155. The report is online at http://www.kiplinger.com/reports/best-college-values/